Cord winder



Jan. 22, 1946. P. RUTTKAY 2,393,417

CORD wINDE y Filed May`l6, 1944 `2 Sheets-Sheet l Tia-1 L VINVENTI'QR 'MM ATT'ORNEY W# yf Jan. 22, 1946. P. RUTTKAY 2,393,417.

' com) wINDER Filed May 16, 1944 A 2 sheets-sheet 2 d ZZ INVENTOR ATTORNEY Patented Jan. v.22, 1946 CORD WIND'ER Paul Ruttkay, Stamford, Conn., assiznor to Electrolux Corporation, 01d Greenwich, Conn., a

corporation of Delaware Application May 1s, 1944, serial 140.535.807 s claims. (C1. 242-197) My invention relates to a cord. Winder for winding up any flexible cord, such as the electric cord on a vacuum cleaner.

One of the objects of my invention is to provide In accordance with my invention, a pawl and ratchet mechanism and a friction brake are arranged in series between the reel and a stationary part of the device. When the brake is applied, the pawl and ratchet mechanism permits rotation of the-reel in a direction to unwind the cord, but prevents rotation of the reel under the inuence of the rewind spring. However,l when the brake is released, the pawl andratchet may rotate as'a unit, thus permitting rotation of the reel to wind up the cord. Thus, it is not necessary to release the brake during unwinding of the cord and it is nevernecessary to disengage the pawl from the ratchet. This results in a -much simpler mechanism than is required where the brake must be released during both winding and unwinding of the cord, or where the pawl must be removed from engagement with the ratchet during winding of the cord. It also makes possible the use of a double ended pawl, which is much quieter in operation than a single ended spring pressed pawl, but which cannot be pivoted out of engagement with the ratchet Fig. 4 is an end view of the elements shown in Fig. 3; and l Fig. 5 is an exterior view ofthe lower portion of the device as seen from the left of Fig. l.

Referring to the drawings, reference characy ter I0 designates generally a casing including a rear wall I2, a curved side wall I4 and a front wall I6. As shown more particularly in Fig. 2, the rear wall I2 may be integral with the side wall v I4, while the front wall I6 may be removably secured to the side wall, as by means of bolts I8. A central shaft 20 is formed with threaded' end portions 22v and 24 of reduced diameter whichl extend through suitable openings in the front and rear walls, respectively. Nuts 26 and 28 serve to rigidly secure the shaft 20 to these walls.

Rotatably mounted on the shaft is a reel 30 comprising circular discs 32 and 34 joined together by means of a cylindrical hub member 36.V A spiral spring 38 has its outer end secured to the hub, as by means of rivets 40, while its inner end in anchored to, the shaft 20, as' by means of screws 42. An electric cord 44 is adapted to be Wound on the hub 36 and between the discs 32 and 34. The side wall I4 is formed with an opening 46, shown in Fig. 5, through which the cord 44 may pass during winding or unwinding thereof. i

A bushing 48 is fixed on the reduced portion 24 of the shaft 20 bybeing clamped between the top plate I6 and the shoulder on the shaft. This bushing has a radially extending flange 50. Rotatably mounted on the bushing 48 is a, ratchet wheel 52.v A double ended pawl 54 is pivotally mounted on a pin56 secured to the disc 34 of the reel 30 in such a position that the pawl cooperates with the ratchet in a manner permitting the reel, on which the pawl is mounted, to rotate in a clockwise direction relative to the ratchet, while preventing counter-clockwise rotation of the reel relative to the ratchet. As the pawl moves clockwise around the ratchet, rst one end and then the other of the pawl is moved radially outwardly by the inclined faces of lthe ratchet teeth, thus causing 'the pawl to oscillate on the pin 546. Whenever the pawl tends to move in counterclockwise direction aroundthe ratchet, one or the other of the ends of the pawl is bound to be in a position to engage the radial surface of a tooth, thus arresting further movement of the pawl. Inasmuch as no spring or the like is required for causing engagement of the pawl with the ratchet teeth, the device is very quiet in operation, but, it is obvious that the pawl could not be maintained out of engagement with the teeth, so as to permit it to move around the ratchet counter-clockwise, by merely pivoting the pawl about the pin 56, as is possible with a single end pawl. However, a pawl of the latter type requires a spring or the like for normally holding the pawl in engagement with the ratchet, which results in objectionable noise and wear as the pawl slips over the teeth. In accordance with the present invention, the foregoing objections are overcome by using a silent double ended pawl and providing brake meansv for selectively holding the ratchet f stationary when it is desired to prevent counterclockwise rotation of the reel 30, and freeing the ratchet .when such rotation of thereel is desired, as will-appear more fully hereinafter.

Pivotally mounted on the bushing 48 between the ratchet 52 and the front wall |6 is a generally circular brake member 58 having an actuating arm 60. The face of the brake member 58 which is adjacent'to the wall I6 is formed with a plurality of inclined surfaces 62, 'shown more particularly in Figs. 3 and 4. The inner surface of the wall I6 is formed with similar inclined surfaces 64 which are inclined in an opposite direction from the surfaces on the brake member. These surfaces may be formed by striking out arcuate tabs from the wall I6 and brake member 58 and are arranged to cooperate in such a way that, when the brake member is pivoted about the bushing 48 the surfaces 62 on the brake member slide up on the surfaces 64 on the wall I6, thus displacing the brake member axially along the bushing and forcing it into frictional engagement with the adjacent radial face of the ratchet wheel 52. Consequently, the ratchet wheel is clamped between the brake member and the ange 50 on the bushing and is thus held stationary.

A link 66 is pivotally secured at 68 to the arm 60, and extends through a suitable opening formed in the side wall I4, the outer end of the link being provided with a button or the like 10. A lever 12 is pivotally mounted on a pin 14n carried by the front wall I6. This lever includes arms 16 and 18 extending at right angles to the rest of the lever in the neighborhood of the pin 14. A tension spring 80 is connected between the arm 16 and the brake arm 60, and tends to draw these two arms towards each other. The brake arm is provided with an extension 82 having a radial surface 84 and an arcuate surface 86. With the parts in the position shown in Fig. 1, the end of arm 18 contacts the arcuate surface 86, thus preventing pivoting of the lever 12 ina clockwise direction under the influence of the spring 80. However, if the brake arm 60 is pivoted in a clockwise direction', the end of arm 18 will ride on the arcuate surface 86, until this surface passes beyond the end of the arm, whereupon the spring 80 pivots the lever 12 in a clockwise direction, bringing the end of the arm 18 into engagement with the radial surface 84. This locks the brake arm in the position to which it has been pivoted.

A link 88 is pivoted at 90 to t'he lower end of lever 12. The link extends through a suitable opening in the wall I4 of the casing and has an arm 92 extending at right angles therefrom which carries a bushing 94 in substantial axial alignment with the opening 46, the cord 44 extending through the bushing, as is shown more particularly in Fig. 5.

If desired, a lever 96 may be pivotally mounted on a pin 98 carried by the front wall I6. One end of this lever extends through a slot |00 formed in the side wall I4, while the other end of the lever is formed as a nose |02 which may be pivoted into engagement with a surface |04 formed on the lever 12. With the parts in the position s'hown in Fig. 1, the lever 96 has no effect on the' lever 12, but if the lever 96 is pivoted in a counter-clockwise direction so that the 'nose |02 contacts the surface |04, the lever 12 is thus prevented from pivoting in a clockwise direction when the arcuate surface 86 on the brake arm passes beyond the end of the arm 18, and hence the arm 18 cannot move down to vengage the radial surface 84 on the-brake arm.

Consequently, the brake arm will not be locked, but will .be free to pivot in a counter-clockwise direction under the influence o1 spring 8U.

The above described device operates as follows:

It will be assumed that the cord 44 is completely wound on the reel, with the exception or' the length of cord necessary to extend out tnrougn the Opening 46. 'lne usual enlarged lelectric plug |06 connected to the end of the cord prevents tile latter from being drawn completely into tne casing. With the cord thus wound on the reel au, the spring 38 will be unwound. When it is aesired to unwind the cord lfrom the reel, the plug |06 is grasped and pulled outwardly. 'l'nis causes the reel to rotate in a clockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 1. As the reel rotates, the pawl tu, which is pivotally secured to tne reel by means of pin 56, travels around the stationary ratchet, the pawl oscillating as the ends thereof pass over the teeth of the ratchet. As above described, tnls operation of the ratchet mechanism is substantially silent, and results in practically no wear of the parts. When the desired amount or' cord has thus been unwound from the reel, the pull on the cord is relieved, and the spring 38 immediately tends to rotate the reel 30 in a counterclockwise direction. However, one or the other of the ends of the pawl 54 engages a tooth on the stationary ratchet 52, thus preventing rewinding of the cord.

When it is desired to rewind the cord, the operator depresses the Vbutton 10, thus pivoting the brake arm 60 in a clockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 1. This pivoting of the ybrake arm 60 and the brake member 58 permits the inclined surfaces on the latter to slide down on the inclined surfaces 64 on the front wall I6, thus permitting the ibrake member to be displaced axially to the right, as viewed in Fig. 2, which relieves the clamping or braking pressure applied to the ratchet 52. The ratchet is hence free to rotate and the ratchet and pawl rotate as a unit with the reel under the influence of the spring 38.

Pivoting of the brake arm 60 in a clockwise direction permits the arm 18 of lever 12 to be pulled down by the spring into engagement with the radial surface 84 on the brake arm (provided the lever 86 is in the position shown in Fig. 1) to thus lock the brake arm, hence preventing pivoting of the arm in a counter-clockwise direction under the influence of the spring 80. Consequently, pressure on the Abutton 10 may be relieved without. the brake being applied'.

Pivoting of the lever 12 in a clockwise direction causes the link 88 and arm 92 to move the bushing 94 outwardly away from the wall I4. As the cord is rewound it ,passes through this bushing until the plug |06 strikes the bushing. The resulting impact is suicient to pivot the lever 12 in a counter-clockwise direction, thus moving the arm 18 outwardly along the radial surface 84 of the brake arm and onto the arcuate surface 86 thereof. Consequently, the spring 80 is now able to pivot the brake arm in a counter-clockwise direction so as to turn the brake member 58 in this same direction to thereby cause the inclined surfaces 62 thereon to ride up on the inclined surfaces 64, thus displacing the brake member axially to the left, as viewed in Fig. 2. This applies braking force to the ratchet 52 so that the latter is n'ow fixed.

If it is desired to have the electric cordA under tension at all times, so that the reel will take up slack, as the vacuum cleaner or the like is moved closer to the outlet to which the plug |06 is attached, the button 1n is depressed as soon as the plug has been inserted in the outlet. In the manner above described, this releases the brake on the ratchet, thus permitting the reel to be ro-A entire rewinding, the lever 96 may be pivoted in a counterclockwise direction so as to bring the nose |02 into engagement with the surface |04 on the lever 12. As above described, this prevents pivoting of the lever 'l2 in a clockwise ,direction -and hence prevents the end of the arm 'I8 from moving into engagement with the radial surface 84. Thus, the brake arm will not be locked in brake releasing position, but will be pivoted in a counterclockwise direction so as to apply the brake as soon as pressure on the button 'I0 is relieved. Thus, the operator may stop the rewinding at any time and may control the speed at which the cord is rewound by regulating the pressure applied to the button 10.

Even with the lever 96 in the position shown in Fig. l, the same result may be obtained if the button 1in is not depressed sufficiently so that the arm 'I8 can move down into contact with the radial surface 8l. Obviously, as long as the arm 18 is on the arcuate surface 86, the brake arm 60 will not be locked and can be pivoted in a counter-clockwise direction by the spring 80 whenever pressure on the button is reduced.

While I have shown and described one more or less specific embodiment of my invention, it is to be understood that this has been done for purposes of illustration only and that the scope of my invention is not to be limited thereby, but is to be determined from the appended claims. Certain structure disclosed but not claimed herein constitutes an invention of Arnold H. Beede, and

is disclosed and claimed in application Serial No.

542,858, led by him on June 30, 1944.

What I claim is:

1. Ina cord winder, a reel, a cord, meansl for rotating said reel in a direction to wind the cord thereon, a pawl pivotally mounted on said reel, a rotatably mounted ratchet cooperating p with said pawl, said ratchet having a radial face providing a braking surface, an axially displaceable brake member adjacent to said face, and means for displacing said brake member into and out of frictional engagement with said braking surface for selectively arresting and permitting rotation of said ratchet.

2. In a cord Winder, a reel, a cord, means for rotating said reel in a direction to wind lthe cord thereon, a pawl pivotally mounted on said reel, a rotatably mounted ratchet cooperating with said pawl, said ratchet having a radial face providing a braking surface, an axially displaceable brake member adjacent to said face, resilient means for displacing said brake member into frictional engagement with said braking surface to arrest rotation of said ratchet, and manually operable means for displacing said brake mem`- ber out of frictional engagement with said braking surface to free said ratchet for rotation with said pawl and reel.

3. In a -cord winder, a fixed shaft, a reel rotatably mounted on said shaft, a cord, means for rotating said reel in a direction to wind the cord thereon, a ratchetwlieel rotably mounted on said shaft, 'a pawl pivotally mounted on said reel and cooperating with said ratchet wheel i'or prevent,- ingrotation in said direction oi said reel relative to said ratchet wheel while permitting rotation of said reel in the opposite direction, a brake member axially displaceable on saidsnai't. and means ior axially displacing said brake member into and out of irictional engagement with said ratchet wheel for selectively arresting and permitting rotation of said ratchet wheel.

4. In a cord Winder, aV nxed shaft, a reel rotatably mounted on said shaft, a cord, means for rotating said reel in a direction to wind the cord thereon, a ratchet wheel rotatably mounted on said snaIt, a `pawl pivotaily mounted on said reel and cooperating with said ratchet Wheel for preventing rotation in said direction or' said reel relative to said ratchet wheel wnile permitting rotation of said reel in the opposite direction, a brake member axially displaceable on said shaft, i'esilient means for axially displacing said brake member into frictional engagement with said rachet wheel vto arrest rotation thereof, and. manually operable `means for displacing said brake member out of frictional engagement with said ratchet wheel to free the latter for rotation with said pawl and reel.

. 5. In a cord windei, a stationary wall, a shaft xed to said wall, a reel rotatably mounted on said shaft, a cord, means for rotating said reel in a direction to wind the cord thereon, a ratchet wheelvrotatably mounted on said shaft, a pawl pivotally mounted on said reel and `cooperating l with said ratchet wheel for preventing rotation in said direction of said reel relative to said ratchet wheel while permitting rotation of said reel in the opposite direction, a brake member of the latter displaces it axially into frictional engagement with said ratchet wheel, and means for rotating said brake member.

6. In a cord Winder, a stationary wall, a'shaft fixed to said wall, a reel rotably mounted on said shaft, a cord, means for rotating said reel in a direction to wind the cord thereon, a ratchet wheel rotatably mounted on said shaft, a pawl pivotally mounted on said reeland cooperating with said -ratchet wheel for preventing rotation in said direction of said reel relative to said 5 ratchet wheel-while permitting rotation of said reel in the opposite direction, a brake member mounted for rotation and axial displacement on said shaft between said stationary wall and said ratchet wheel, cooperating cam surfaces' on said Wall and said brake member whereby rotation of the latter in one direction displaces it axially into frictional engagement with said ratchet wheel, resilient means for rotating said brake member in said one direction to frictionally engage said ratchet wheel for restraining the latter' against rotation, and manually operable means for rotating said brake member against the force said pawl and said reel.

7. In a cord Winder, a stationary wall, a shaft fixed to said wall, a reel rotatably mounted on said shaft, a cord, means for rotating said reel 75. in a direction to wind the cord thereon, a radial flange fixed to said shaft, a ratchet wheel rotatably mounted on said shaft between said wall and said flange, a pawl pivotally mounted on said reel and cooperating with said ratchet Wheel for ypreventing rotation in said direction of said reel relative to said ratchet wheel While permitting rotation of the reel in the opposite direction, a brake member mounted for rotation and axial displacement on said shaft between said stationary wail and said ratchet wheel, cooperating cam surfaces on said wall and said brake member whereby rotation of the latter displaces it axially against said ratchet wheel to clamp the wheel between said flange andthe brake member to thereby arrest rotation of the wheel, and means for rotating said brake member.

8. In a cord Winder, a stationary wall, a shaft fixed to said wall, a reel rotatably mounted on said shaft, a cord, means for rotating said reel in a direction to wind rthe cord thereon, a radial flange xed to said shaft, a ratchet wheel rotatably mounted on said shaft between said wall andsaid ange, a pawl pivotally mounted on said reel and cooperating with said ratchet wheel for preventing rotation in said direction of said reel relative to said ratchet wheel while permitting rotation of the reel in the opposite direction, a brake memberl mounted for rotation and axial displacement on said shaft between said stationary wall and said ratchet wheel, cooperating cam surfaces on said wall and said brake member whereby rotation of the latter in one direction displaces it axially against said ratchet wheel to clamp the wheel between said flange and the brake member, resilient means- 

